🎐

"So...Uchiha-san...—"

"Call me Kazumi."

The two sat on the rooftop of Yuuei, far away from the loudness of it all, far from any prying eyes. Kazumi didn't eat, letting Shinsou eat his meal, ramen. It smelled and looked just like the ramen at Ichiraku's. Yet he couldn't find it in himself to try it.

"O-Okay. Kazumi-san. Frankly, I have quite a few questions about you," He was straightforward, the Uchiha smiled, he liked that.

"Alright. I supposed I owe you an explanation. Ask away."

"Are you..." A conflicted look crosses his face. "...of this world?"

Kazumi's eyes widened. He had expected something from the boy, he seemed more reserved, more mature than others. He found himself chuckling, his eyes forming little crescent moons.

"Ah...cat's out of the bag huh?" He merely said whilst shrugging, calming down and looking at Shinsou who sat, shellshocked. He had imagined something crazy. But, well...not this crazy.

"S-So you're really...an alien?"

"..."

Kazumi lost it at that, he laughed, barely containing himself, wiping a stray tear, he spoke.

"You really are interesting...and quite humorous too," He
mused, he'd stopped his fit of laughter, yet his eyes still held amusement in them.

"Then if you're not an alien...are you from another universe?"

So he was smart.

"Ah, Hitoshi-san...you've got me all figured out," He raised his palms up, feigning defeat, a playful expression on his face. The lilac boy's face lit up, his face lightly dusted with pink as his eyes sparkled.

"Tell me about your world...Kazumi-san!"

Well...how could I say no to that?

🎐

The twins' weekly visits to the Ninja Academy became a weekly occurrence, while Kaoru was there nearly every other day, Kazumi accompanied his twin twice a week. On mondays, he met with Sasuke and Naruto's class, while on fridays, he would meet Neji's class.

It was crazy how different the two classes were, despite being only one year apart. Neji's class was calm, quiet and reserved, sure they were a pretty average year, but there were some outliers. Some diamonds in the rough.

And then there was Naruto's class. Obnoxious, loud, a bit of everything—mainly it was Naruto. But hell...pair Naruto up with Inazuka Kiba and you'll get a match made in hell.

Kaoru had his own little clicks—yes, plural—but he was mainly around Kiba, Ino, Sakura, Choji. In the other class, he was all buddy-buddy with Rock Lee. Kazumi stuck to his own small group, he still liked Sasuke best, obviously. But he found that he also enjoyed the Nara heir, Shikamaru's company, because he wasn't the talkative type. Surprisingly, Kazumi had found that Naruto had grown on him. Although he was loud and obnoxious, stupid and a little twerp, but he was a fun guy to be around, a comedic relief you could say.

And then there were the Hyugas. Hinata was still shy, Kazumi suspected that she wanted to talk to the others but was probably told otherwise. The Hyuga clan was known for strict rules. She'd opened up a little and told Kazumi about Neji, her cousin and their situation with the main and branch family.

She wanted to talk to him...but he didn't seem to share the sentiment.

Neji was a quiet kid. He kept to himself most of the times, despite being at the top of his class. In some ways, Kazumi saw Sasuke in him. How he longed to be recognized by the main branch, how he kept to himself instead of playing around with the other kids, they couldn't be any more similar.

It took a while. Neji always kept to himself, and while he acknowledged and respected Kazumi as a ninja, that was it. He didn't need him, Neji told himself. He told himself that he didn't need anyone. No one could change their fate, their destiny, no matter how hard they tried. So he pushed him away, and he told himself that he didn't care, that he wanted nothing to do with Uchiha Kazumi.

Until he found out that Kaoru was the heir to the Uchiha Clan.

And that was when it began. Neji couldn't help but feel the slightest bit curious. He wanted to know why. Why Kazumi seemed to support his twin, no matter what, even though he'd taken what had rightfully belonged to him.

"Because Kaoru was born to he a leader," He'd said when the Hyuga finally brought up the courage to ask him.

"But...But aren't you older? Aren't you...mad that he stole what was rightfully yours?"

He merely shook his head.

"When I was younger," Kazumi started. "I was angry."

Hearing Kazumi admit it made his eyes widen.

"Everyone was always fawning over Kaoru. Telling him how could of a leader...how good of a clan head he would be, even though Itachi or Shisui-nii could take the position. And I didn't get it."

"I didn't understand what I was lacking," Neji knew the feeling well. He'd spend countless nights asking that question. Why was he born lower, how was it his fault, what did he lack?

"But I figured out that...maybe sometimes you can't fill the missing hole, you can't really fix what you lack. Not completely at least."

"But...You can make up for it with something else."

Neji's eyes widened, glossing over as he looked down, trying to hide his teary eyes. Blinking, he tried to force the tears away, embarrassed that one of the Uchiha prodigies had to see him so vulnerable. The Hyuga mark on his forehead throbbed. Why did it always have to hurt so much?

"Neji."

He looked up, surprised by the gentle edge in his voice. When he looked into Kazumi's eyes, he was shocked. Sincerity, kindness, and something else he couldn't put his finger around, that was what he found in those endlessly dark pupils. There was no pity, no scorn, nothing of the sort, nothing he had expected at all.

"I don't think you lack anything."

"I don't think there's anything...you have to change about yourself," The words he'd been wanting to hear, the words he always hoped to hear in his clan, was spoken to him by a complete outsider. A member of a rival clan, even.

"Our destinies aren't locked forever."

And from that day on, Hyuga Neji never stopped believing in Kazumi. Kazumi would never know it, but there was one person in the village, who had never stopped thinking if him. Neji would never admit it, never say it out loud, yet no matter what the Uchiha did, whatever crimes he committed, what organization he was apart of, he never stopped believing.

No matter how much they'd grown, even if...he couldn't remember his face, or his voice, or his gentle touches anymore. Even if, had they met right now, they wouldn't recognize each other, even if he was truly the evil they said he was...

He never stopped believing in Uchiha Kazumi, and he found it in himself that he probably would never stop.

Some things just never change, do they?

🎐

Kazumi didn't realize how much time had passed until he heard the bell ring, signaling the end of recess. The pair had spent their entire break conversing. Shinsou had told him all about his past, the issues that he faced because he'd been labelled as villainous, how he'd tried so hard to get into Yuuei's top hero class only to fall short, merely landing a spot in the General Studies class. Hitoshi told him how, recently he'd been promoted to the hero course, class 1B and that's why the bullies were picking on him.

In turn, the Uchiha had told him about Five Great Shinobi Nations. He told them about chakra, about the ways of the shinobi, everything there was to know about him. It was the first time, in a long time, that he had talked about himself.

And strangely...Kazumi enjoyed it.

Hitoshi was different from the other students in class 1A, he wasn't naive or delusional, he was mature, smart. He reminded Kazumi of Neji, a lot. And he found himself missing the Hyuga a lot more than he'd admit.

Bidding each other goodbye, Shinsou returned to his class, and Kazumi to his. There was an unspoken truce between them now. Kazumi didn't know how to explain
it or wrap his head around it very clearly but he had a feeling...just a feeling that Hitoshi wouldn't tell anyone about him.

As he walked to the battle range, all eyes followed him.

It's time to get down to business. And...maybe knock down some egos...shall we?

🎐

"There are no strict rules, only basic ground rules. Either you render Uchiha immobile or unconscious. All quirks and weapons are permitted. As for who passes...I'll leave it up to the kid to decide," Aizawa's voice rasped out. Kazumi was sure that he'd passed out as soon as he was done speaking.

"No killing, naturally," Gee that almost felt like it was directed at him. He stood in the center of the fake city, the students took their positions, out of sight.

"You may begin in...

.

3

.

2

.

1

.

START!"

Bakugou wasted no time in jumping into action. He blasted himself forward, explosions propelling him towards Kazumi, readying his gauntlets, he fired. A huge explosion created a crater where the Uchiha was standing.

"Heh...he's just another stupid extra—" Bakugou never got to finish his sentence as he heard a voice right next to his ear.

"Hn. Cocky now, are we?"

Before he could even turn around and react, Kazumi landed a kick in him, sending him backwards, crashing through a number of buildings.

"H-His raw power is...amazing!"

"How are we going to beat him, kero?"

"Mom...pick me up, I'm scared."

A barrage of ice encases around Kazumi's legs, causing his feet to become completely rooted in the ground. He watched as the half-and-half boy breathe out...half frosty air and on the other half hot steam. Somebody needs to study this guy's anatomy—

"Eh?" Kazumi stared at his legs. "Not bad."

"Katon...Goukakyuu no Jutsu—!"
(Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu)

Muttering out of habit, he took in a deep breath before blowing out all the air in his lungs, fire emitting from his lips instantly. The ice melted away rapidly, until it was just a puddle of water below him.

Kazumi wasted no time, seeing a tape boy swing towards him, and two males rushing in towards him from different directions, he realized he was surrounded.

...Or so they thought.

Kazumi smirked, body flickering into the air, he readied six kunai, in a split second, he threw three kunai and with another flick of his wrists launched the other three, using them to redirect each other's paths. The first three kunai hit their marks on the three students ahead of him,  One of Sero's tape arms, his dominant hand—of course Kazumi noticed, Kirishima's eyes, his weak point, and of course Todoroki's right side. The latter three flew towards students standing near the back, finding their mark on the ground below.

BOOM BOOM BOOM

The explosive tags on attached to the kunai blew up one by one, some people got away with a few minor injuries, others weren't so fortunate.

Everything had happened so quickly in the blink of an eye, too fast to follow, Sero was hindered useless, his right elbow had a kunai lodged perfectly between it, preventing any tape from being dispensed. Kirishima managed to harden his eye in time, causing the kunai to bounce off with a 'clang!' but his hardening crumbled away completely from the force of it all. Todoroki had reacted too slowly, his flames couldn't completely melt the metal blade, causing it to slice his slide. Wincing, he gritted his teeth and glared at the seemingly unbothered Kazumi, landing gracefully on the ground.

Seeing the majority of the students downed, he readied his next attack, leaving them no room to rest or give up.

"...Doton: Moguragakure no Jutsu...!"
(Earth Style: Hiding Mole)

The students suddenly felt the ground beneath them crack, before they all fell through the ground, their heads barely above the ground, the earth around them started pressing tighter and tighter before all of them were completely encased underground.

A girl, Jirou Kyouka used her earphone jacks to send a blast to the ground, freeing herself and those around her, which happened to be Iida and Yaoyorozu.

Before she even had a chance to act, Kazumi had struck a vital point at her nape, knocking her out cold. Iida sped away, trying to gain as much distance as possible.

"You're a long ranged fighter huh? I'm guessing those engines on your legs need time revving up. You need heat..." He looked at the fireboy-watergirl-mutant, encased in the ground. "Looks like you won't be getting that anytime soon."

With a flick of his wrist, Iida, who had been sprinting, stumbled to the ground immediately. The wire strings he wielded were barely visible, only a small glint in thin air gave it away. Kazumi leapt, weaving his fingers and hands intricately, Iida became completely encased, rended immobile. He even threw a kunai in each of the engines, just to be sure.

The girl, Yaoyorozu had been standing there all along, whether she was shocked or scared, Kazumi didn't know. He turned to her, clicking his tongue in distaste as he saw her flinch.

He body flickered behind her immediately. His bloodlust, his aura, his eyes, the way they stared at her...she fell to her knees, shaking like a leaf in the wind.

"Weak."

Kazumi looked behind him seeing Bakugou, battered and bloodied. He trudged towards the Uchiha, a murderous look in his eyes, one Kazumi found himself smiling at.

"Yeah...that's more like it—!"

Bakugou lunged, engaging in a hand-to-hand taijutsu fight with Kazumi. Pulling the pin his grenade blasters, the sweat of his palms he'd been collecting bursted, causing a big explosion. Kazumi flickered away, watching the aftermath of the explosion. This kid was strong, Kazumi liked him. He liked that look in his eyes. His strength, his power, it was all too familiar to him.

...Dei...There's someone that might just surpass you.

The ash blonde saw this opening, using his explosions to create a flash bang, temporarily blinding Kazumi, stray debris cutting his cheek. His shocked expression morphed into a confident smirk. Another shower of even stronger blasts followed the first.

As the smoke cleared, everyone seemed to hold their breath. But when the clouds of dust dissipated, they were met with nothing, other than empty craters.

Bakugou panted...there was no way. No way this was real.

"I applaud you, you're the only one who's landed a hit on me," Point to the shallow cut on his left cheek. "It's been fun but...I guess it's time I end this."

"DIE-" Kazumi merely tilted his head to the side, avoiding the small sparks emitting from his head, in a final, last ditch effort. Striking the boy at his chakra point, he watched as his eyes roll back and his body slumped to the ground.

"Well...one down..." He looked at the two remaining students left standing, Midoriya and Todoroki, who had managed to free himself, using his ice.

"Two more to go."

This time, Kazumi didn't wait for them to attack him, he struck first. Utilizing Full Cowling and everything he'd learned at his internship, Midoriya began engaging in close combat with Kazumi. Readying his foot he focused all his energy in his fist, aiming for a straight punch to Kazumi's face. Unfazed, he caught Izuku's fist with both arms, the air pressure whipping around him.

Todoroki aimed his ice at Kazumi's other side, and Izuku aimed for a kick with One for All activated, Kazumi jumped away, flipping in the air, throwing a kunai effortlessly, his aim never faltering. Midoriya narrowly avoided an attack sent his way, as a kunai was launched past him, cutting his cheek and landing on the ground a few meters away.

BOOM

He'd failed to notice the explosive tag attached to the kunai, the explosion had caused him to be blown away, skidding back many meters, but before his body even hit the ground—

"...Raiton...Chidori-!"

Instead of piercing his skin, Kazumi felt ice beneath his hands. Todoroki had deliberately used his ice quirk at the moment of impact, in an attempt to lower the impact.

But of course, it wasn't enough.

His Chidori broke through the ice, shredding the glacier like paper. Kazumi let his palm lay flat on Midoriya's skin, letting the lightning and electricity course through his body. He spasmed on the ground, eyes rolling back, losing consciousness immediately.

Everyone and everything seemed to be deathly silent.

Kazumi's eyes flitted over to the lone Todoroki, the last one standing. Flickering right in front of the boy, Kazumi cocked his head menacingly.

"Hey. Your ice is annoying me."

Todoroki knew he had to move, fight, god just do something! Yet he found that every part of his body was frozen still, he couldn't tear his eyes away from him.

There was something so obviously wrong with him, the look in his eyes so empty, so unfeeling, and so incredibly cold. But they held something more dark, much more sinister.

Todoroki staggered back, falling down onto his rump, finally seeming to regain himself, he thrusted out a hand. A huge stadium-sized glacier shot above the ground at his beck and call.

"Amaterasu."

Black, dark flames licked at his ice. Todoroki had never seen a color so dark, so terrifyingly alluring as this flame before. The flames rose, even as the ice melted away, they roared on the ground behind them.

He watched as a single drop of blood cascade down his face from those unnerving red eyes, and realized they weren't meant to win. Because this guy was on a whole other level. From the very beginning the fate of this match had been decided.

"UCHIHA KAZUMI WINS."

They never stood a chance.

🎐

quick a/n !!
hey guys! i hope you've enjoyed this story so far. i have a lot of plans in mind for this story, and surprisingly a lot of inspiration, so expect updates every week. this storys been doing pretty well, views-wise.

please continue to support me and my work. i would absolutely love and adore you to bits and pieces if you comment, because i love reading you guys' input!!

special thank you to these two, htaed_76 and gabb_0 who have been diligently commenting and voting for all my chaps! love ya!

to be continued...